Our F450/550 are about the same height. We have a couple F600 4x4 that are taller. But have extra spring. Most of these 4x4, arent tall, at all. Maybe you were looking at a plow, or offroad optioned truck? Also, most of our 2wd's have a solid front axle.

2wd is a **** poor choice, in a vehicle with such poor rear traction when unloaded.

Here's why Ford offers the 2wd in low trims: For companies that need gopher trucks. (Go-for) Deliveries, and other lame jobs. Most of the time, its just the cheapest thing possible. On rare occasion the truck needs to be as light as possible.

Why Ford deosnt offer it in expensive trims: Because it makes Ford look bad. Fords entire reputation hangs on the Superduty. Making a bunch of them that are super expensive but rubbish, makes the entire brand look bad. It might please a few RV weirdos that have some kind of odd trailer that can only be towed by a lowrider. Or a weird trailer that wont clear the bed sides. We just get a far superior flatbed like everyone else. But.....the Lariat is available in 2wd, so I dont really get what the OP is upset about.

It's far better to let 1% of your customer base, go buy a GM, than it is to let 99% of your customer base see overpriced loaded trucks, that cant even cross a Starbucks parking lot without getting stuck.

Ram has chased away a ton of their customers by offering some oddball 2wd setups. It makes the entire brand look bad. The ghetto side of my nearest city is filled with Ram 2wd's. They get stuck or wrecked every snowfall. Its a popular joke now.

 

Take the bed off.

Its sad that you dont go camping where 4wd is required. Youre missing all of the best spots.

 

Just when some of your post make half azz sence your noobie to the forum shows through.

 

You don't know me and I don't know you but we been camping with slide in or 5th wheel campers for 48 years and never used a 4x4 just 2x4 and have never been stuck and we've been in a few places we shouldn't have been like boondocking along lakes in Canada. When you have camped in 49 states, 6 Providences and old Mexico for a month at a time then come and talk to me what I need for a truck.
Denny

 

Lovely. Well enjoy your lame 2wd's and boring parking lot style camping,

 

Lots buy them, but the market is more regional vs the national market. I see more 2wd trucks in places where the weather is warm, not much snow, and no real mountains. That doesn't mean people don't buy a 4x4 to go sling mud, but I see almost exclusively 4x4 configurations on lots up in the snow/rust belt and in the US west and the US SE/Florida tends to be more willing to get a 4x2 configuration. Doesn't mean that people from the snow belt don't want a 4x2, just that it is more typical to see the 4x4 configuration there.

Let's face it, the average consumer doesn't know how to drive anyway, and put them in a 4x2 truck with no weight in the back and see how fast they get into trouble thinking that just because they have a pickup, they are immune to the snow... I would not put forum users in the "average consumer" territory...

 

If only you knew where I've been with our 2x4 trucks.
Denny

 

Dennys some of these folks are lost without 4x4.

 

If someone is towing a 30+ foot 5th wheel, they damn sure ain't pulling their $75-100k+ trailer into places that require 4WD to get to.

Furthermore, this country was largely built by 2wd sedans and trucks long before the bougie 4x4 trucks started taking over in the '90's

 

I've hauled fire wood out of the mountains of Colorado for 10 years with my 2002 F250 CC 8' bed 4X2 with no issue. You just need to know your limitations. But I do have a 2026 F250 4X4 on order to replace it with.

 

I remember most of the 70's - 90's trucks were 2WD. It wasn't until the Super Duty trucks came about that 4WD became more popular.

 

I remember those same people running with several hundred lbs of sand/salt/kitty litter (oil dry) in the back of their truck too during winter.

4x4 does not make you stop better, just makes you start better. That said, getting out of my driveway in the winter (Chicago area) was a lot easier in my 4x4 than it was in my rwd thunderbird. Just need to remember to keep the speed down to a level where you can actually stop if you need to, rather than go into the ditch.

Again, most of what people buy in the snow belt and mountain areas tend (but not exclusive to) be 4x4s because most people like having the security blanket of 4wd/AWD. However, there is nothing wrong with a person wanting a 4x2, especially if they know what they are doing and it sounds like this person does...

Personally, I have a 4x4. I use it approximately 3-4 minutes a year. Boat ramp when it's slick, getting out of my driveway after a major snow storm, needing to go through my yard because my driveway is crowded with other people's cars...I think I used it 15 minutes one year when I needed to get out and my neighborhood wasn't plowed with a foot of snow.

 

can do lots with 2wd but as long as you can get both to turn, add some weight, carry chains, maybe some traction boards, tow strap, shovel....the bare mins i carry even with 4wd however the things i do with that and 4wd and with a light short built trailer are well past the norm, as mentioned, you adapt, being north of 50 had to live with multiple 2wd's and the adventures that come with them to train you to limitations and preparedness, both my kids i started on used 2wd rangers, and some of that preparedness, they've been learning these limitations just like i had to haha, one has moved onto a 4wd, the other is still rocking his ranger as still in high school, lots of weight in it, good tires and lsd, but he takes girls into muddy spots etc. and has needed a couple tug outs from his brother etc. while he learns the winter/snow driving and offroad limitations...

front wheel drives with engine over axle and pulling are amazing what they can do, that's all a 4wd adds to an empty truck, better to have than not, i wouldn't try to own another 2wd but live in canada and hunt/fish lifestyle so use 4wd for real...pretty much weekly lol, fingers are trained to hit that button without even looking

resale would be another reason to avoid 2wd over much of the continent anyway...you exclude majority of available market, so even if you don't use it, you may want it just so you have a full market for it should it have to go down the road someday

we all like insurance and redundancy, that's all 4wd is on a truck, seems no-brainer and that's why most others see it that way also,

and yup these super duties are tall, my new xl 4wd 250 with zero suspension adds and the skinny 31.5" tires is as tall as my 22 chev 1500 4wd with a 4/3 lift on 33's lol, and i'm going up 2.5/2" and to 35's next week, so should be sitting 4" higher front and 3.5" higher rear, or 1" over a tremor...but need the clearance for the **** we do, especially now with a 22' long truck vs a 19' long truck

 

I've been playing more with the building site and if you watch what options you add you can build a 2x4 F350 Lariat with 7.3 gas motor. We just don't want a XLT but the base Lariat will work just fine. Still working on the cab clearance and axle rating.
Denny

 

The truck you built is a crew cab, right? Not the super cab you wanted.